Only UK degree course in stringed instrument-making to close

The making of stringed instruments will become a critically endangered craft under plans to close new courses at the only UK college teaching the skills as a full-time degree. “There is the distinct possibility that this skill will go from viable to critically endangered, and thus be added to the next edition of the red list,” said Daniel Carpenter, executive director of the the Heritage Crafts Association. The announcement has caused outrage in the music industry, with 24 winners of the BBC Young Musician of the Year award signing a letter to protest against the closure. Watson confirmed the college was considering replacing the degree programme with a privately funded course although she acknowledged this would mean students had no access to finance. Without us, there will be no music in schools or the community – all the school music rooms, gigs and concerts will go silent.”